A. Consecration is to set aside a natural thing for holy purposes and usages.

B. Holiness is our distinction to God.

C. There is a recompense for a consecrated life:

– St. Luke 5:1-6 1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

1. The degree of your consecration will dictate the degree of your compensation.

2. Consecrating the entire ship dictated a full compensation for Peter (retiring Peter from the fishing business) based on his total obedience.

3. The Word gives the clearance for complete obedience (verse 6).

I. CRAVINGS CONFLICT WITH CONSECRATION

A. Craving defined…desire, hunger, thirst, a longing, to want it in the worst way, a vehement or urgent desire, that which requires or demands gratification (God does not want you to desire something more than Him. That place in you that must be satisfied is reserved for God)

B. Cravings can be controlled

– Colossians 3:1-5 1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

1. To set your affections (emotions) mean that you can control your cravings (verse 2). 2. You are dead to cravings demand over you (verses 2-3). 3. You must mortify (prevent stench) of your members (appetites). They do not just leave; you must kill that spirit.

– Psalm 42:1-2 1As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

1. An unmanaged craving that demands gratification is a place in your heart reserved for God.

2. Nothing and no one should satisfy you like the Lord.

C. How a Christian control his cravings

1. Comprehend the fact that cravings unmanaged destroys. – I Corinthians 10:12 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. a. Those who claim “I can handle it” usually can’t. b. We should realize that cravings for that which is unlike God can truly be harmful in our lives.

2. Cautions about cravings need to be understood. In other words, watch you. – St. Matthew 26:41 41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. a. Everyone has an Achilles heel/tendon – that which can cause you to become weak.

3. Captivate and control your thoughts. – II Corinthians 10:5 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

4. Control your body (beat it into subjection) – I Corinthians 9:27 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castawa.

5. Control where take yourself – you cannot always trust yourself – II Timothy 2:22 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. a. Lusts are any uncontrolled desires. – Proverbs 4:14-15 14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

6. Conditions for victory – I Corinthians 10:13 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

a. All temptations can be mastered. b. The escape door must be sought before the temptation becomes vehement. – Romans 8:37 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.